By Andrew Johnson •Published July 27, 2019•Updated on July 28, 2019 at 11:15 am

A San Diego sergeant was arrested Friday night for allegedly soliciting sex from a minor, which the chief of police called “very embarrassing.”

SDPD Sgt. Joseph Ruvido, 49, was charged with one felony count of soliciting a minor for sex. Without providing details, SDPD Chief of Police David Nisleit said the charge itself could be a felony or a misdemeanor, but Ruvido faces the stricter option.

“Today, I stand here as a very disappointed and embarrassed police chief who has to announce the arrest of one of our own,” said Nisleit. “Police officers should and must be held to a higher standard, both on-duty and off-duty.”

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Officers received a tip from Crime Stoppers and the Internet Crimes Against Children task force Wednesday about “individuals soliciting sex with minors.” While investigating the claim, SDPD discovered one of the alleged suspects was Ruvido.

“We had a member of this department do something that is reprehensible,” Nisleit said.

The police chief did not comment on the other reported suspects in this case.

“We wear this badge with a lot of pride,” Nisleit said. “And so, when we have a member go out and tarnish that badge, it hurts us all.”

At 9 p.m. Friday, officers arrested Ruvido without incident at his Carmel Valley home, SDPD said. The department also served a search warrant at this time.

“Immediately after his arrest, I took steps to remove Sgt. Ruvido’s police powers, and he has been suspended from duty without pay,” said Nisleit.

SDPD continues to investigate this case.

Ruvido has served SDPD for 21 years and was a patrol sergeant for the eastern division before being assigned to the Watch Commander’s Office "a year or so" ago.

According to SDPD’s Facebook page, Ruvido was highlighted in 2016 for his service in the U.S. Navy for eight years. He was deployed in the “first Gulf War (Desert Shield & Desert Storm) with the 1st Marine Division 1st Tank Battalion from 1990-1991,” the post said.

As of Saturday night Ruvido posted bail and is expected to go on trial sometime next week.

Anyone with information or believes they were a possible victim of Ruvido is asked to call SDPD at (619) 531-2480.